The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-01-06
MRS. BLANKS DIAMONDS.
HOW They Were Recovered by Secret
Service Detective.

MRS. BLANKS DiAMONOSs
now They Were Recovered by a Secret
Service Detective.
In the winter of 1863-it was the very
last week in December-a strange rob-
berry occurred in the residence of
prominent United States Senator who
was occupying house on Massachu-
sets avenue. Ono afternoon his wife
discovered that her diamonds were
missing. She had them in her hands
on, say Tuesday afternoon. and on Fri
day afternoon they were gone. She
| had them in box in bureau drawer in
her bedroom, and was sure that the
key to this drawer had notpassed out of
herpossesslon. The box was not locked.
and it had not even been lifted out of
the drawer. Some one had simply
raised the lid and lifted the diamonds
out. The thief must have opened the
bureau with false key; but who was
the thiefp Only one domestic had
access to the bedroom, and she was
above suspicion. No breaking and
entering had been committed, no caller
could be suspected, and 1.-THE diamond
mystery" as it was called, was a
puzzler. 1t was given over to the
police detectives to struggle with, and
we of the Government service did not
even hear all the particulars. The
gems were valued at $4,000. The
Senator at once privately offered a re-
ward of $5, 900 and no questions asked,
but nothing came of it.
Seven weeks after the robbery oc-
Cured / was detailed to look up clerk
in the Treasury Department who had
pocketed S4, 800 of Uncle Sans green
backs and slid out He had about
thirty hours the start of me, and he
kept increasing the advantage. He
went first to Philadelphia. While he
probably did not tarry there two hours
I was half day learning that he had
gone to New York. He was not in
That city an hour, but was day and
half learning that he had gone to
Syracnse. / traced him from thence
to Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago and back
east to Poughkeepsie. The scamp
knew well enough that some one would
be after him, and he was playing the
|
was several days behind him in Chi
cago, and when reached Poughkeep'
sic the trail had become cold.
1t was four days before l got the
slightest clue, and then it came from a
citizen of Cortland, hundred miles
away He gave me pretty fair de-
scription of the fugitive, and l was of
on the next train. When l reached
Cortland the stranger was still there
He looked something like the man
wanted. but easily identified himself
as resident of Auburn. | wa
dead stuck. The fugitive hat
increased his start until he might nov
be half way to Europe. received tel
egraphic instructions to return tt
.. Washington, and at once left by wa.
of Elmira, Harrisburg and Phlladel
phia. At Harrisburg had to wait TO
three hours, and after eating lunch
walked up and down the station plat
form for an hour. In so doing my at
tention was attracted to middle-aget
woman in the ladies' waiting-room.
saw that she was covertly watchin,
me, and in the same manner took he
measure. She was quietly and modest
ly dressed, and was perhaps waitini
Q for the same train | was. After a bi
: she got nervous and changed her seat
j but had full view through an opel
5 window of the whole room. one
+ started off as if to 90 up town, bu
L lodged and returned, and 10! she wen
!. TO the door to look after me.
t When the woman caught sight c
1 me again she picked up small trave
Y ing-bag and a wrap and started for th
. street. l slowly followed, determine
4 to get a better look at her face. Befor
+ she reached the door she turned to Il
e cate me, and as she saw me only fe
4 feet away she turned and flung the ba
e at me and hurried away at run.
was SO astonished for two or thre
minutes that 1 made no move. Then
J. picked up the bag, looked it over, an
I finding it unlocked | opened it. Ii
y side was a pasteboard box. In the DC
were the diamonds stolen from Mr.
Senator Blank. There was not anoth,
thing in the bag, which was quite o
e and worn. / put the gems in sa
place and began hunt for the woma
g but though it lasted three days got I
trace of her.
o Who stole the diamonds? l have n
'. the slightest idea Who was ii
a womanp THE wife of some croo
is probably. / carried the diamonds
r. Washington and delivered them in
the hands of Mrs. Senator Blank. A
,e though her husband had offered $50
ct reward he gave me $500, called me
* good fellow, and that was every cent
received Two weeks later | got n
ee man at Johnstown, Pa, in which pla
he had opened cigar store and /
lieved himself dead to the outside worl
a Detroit Free Press.
in ~
OF An employe of w. II. Smith